Stella Maris, St Stephens through to final…in girls football

It was an upset-filled semi-final round as Stella Maris and St. Stephens clinched their berth to the finale, defeating West Ruimveldt and Enterprise respectively when the inaugural Health 2000 Guyana Incorporated Girls Primary Schools football event continued yesterday.

Suffering a 2-0 defeat in their previous meeting in the group stage, St. Stephens would reverse their fortunes in the feature showdown at the Ministry of Education ground, defeating Enterprise 10-9 in a marathon sudden death shoot-out, after normal time ended 1-1.

The opening minutes of the matchup saw Enterprise taking the initial lead in the third minute as Akesha Glasgow netted, stabbing home a right- footed effort into net from the left side of the box, following a goal mouth scramble.

However, St. Stephen’s would be given an opportunity to level proceedings in the 24th minute as Glasgow handled the ball within the right side of the penalty area.

Aliyah Elaine (No.1) of Enterprise Primary in the process of challenging a St Stephens player for possession of the ball during their semi-final matchup.
Aliyah Elaine (No.1) of Enterprise Primary in the process of challenging a St Stephens player for possession of the ball during their semi-final matchup.

Tasked with taking the spot-kick, Straughn would bury her right-footed attempt into the lower right-hand corner to send the matchup into penalty kicks, where they would eventually prevail.

With the win, St. Stephen’s will now face off with Stella Maris on Thursday at the same venue after the latter edged West Ruimveldt 2-0 on penalty kicks. The score line upon the conclusion of normal time was nil-all. Due to the losses, Enterprise and West Ruimveldt will face off in the third place playoff.

In the 5-8 positional section, North Georgetown defeated F.E. Pollard 1-0 compliments of an Angel Denny strike in the fifth minute. They will now lock horns with South Ruimveldt for the fifth spot after the latter defeated Tucville Primary 1-0 in the second fixture of the section.

Keiara Phillips netted the winner for South Ruimveldt with a fifth minute conversion. With the losses, Tucville Primary and F.E. Pollard will battle for the seventh position. In the 9-10 section, St. Pius Primary claimed the ninth spot, defeating St. Margaret’s by a 1-0 score line.

Britney Sampson netted the winner for St. Pius as she found the back of the net through a third-minute strike. In the opening fixture of the day, East La Penitence walked away with the 11th position, defeating Smith Memorial via walkover.